Sen. Sam Brownback, a conservative from Kansas, becomes
the first majorRepublican to formally announce his candidacy.
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January 20, 2007--Exactly two years until the next president
is inaugurated Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) formally announced his candidacy
for the job before a friendly crowd at Heritage Hall in Wichita, Kansas.

Backed by his family, the Senator from Kansas told cheering supporters,
"It's a great journey and ours is a great nation and I make one pledge
to you, to use our greatness for goodness."

In his speech, which lasted about 15 1/2 minutes, Brownback discussed
the social issues for which he is most well known, including marriage "as
the union of a man and a woman for life" and "the need for a culture of
life," but he also delved into other areas. He called for a flat
tax, declaring that "the Internal Revenue Code should be taken behind the
barn and killed with a dull axe," targeted cancer, vowing "we can end deaths
by cancer in ten years," and addressed energy, stating "we must become
energy self-reliant in North America in the next fifteen years." (transcript)

Brownback is seen as a longshot. His strong social conservative
views could earn him a credible showing in the first in the nation Iowa
caucuses, but also draw fire from critics. The DNC put out a press
release describing Brownback's bid as a "candidacy of ideology over people."
There are questions about whether Brownback can raise enough money to sustain
his campaign and have an impact.

Brownback's announcement comes a month and a half after he established
a presidential exploratory committee and just a couple of days before the
March for Life in Washington. (more)